Barber chair with sterilizer



Feb. 15, 1966 J. A. DLOUHY ETAL 3,235,305

BARBER CHAIR WITH STERILIZER Filed Dec. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS JOHN A. DLOUHY Y CHARLES L. REDFIELD ATTORNEYS Feb. 15, 1966 J. A. DLOUHY ETAL 3,

BARBER CHAIR WITH STERILIZER Filed Dec. 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOHN A. DLOUHY B CHARLES L REDFIELD ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,235,305 BAREER CHAIR WITH STEPJLIZER John A. Dlouhy, ()ak Park, and Charles L. Redfield,

Downers Grove, IlL, assignors to Emil J. Paidar Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 333,286 8 Ciairns. (Cl. 297191) The present invention relates to improvements in chairs with reclining backs and particularly to an improved chair and sterilizing tool holder such as used for a barber chair.

In barber and like chairs wherein the customer or occupant is being treated it is desirable to have the treating tools close at hand such as being held in a tool rack. It is desirable because of the requirements of the sanitation laws and for other reasons to maintain the tools sterilized. For example, in a barber chair if the clipper and combs are within the reach of the barber, and are positioned in a support which automatically sterilizes them between use, the time and effort saved by the barber in not having to walk to an adjoining counter or piece of furniture where the tools are kept is considerable and it is very useful for the barber to be able to easily lay down and pick up the tools for very brief use. It has heretofore been difficult to provide a handy tool support which is not in the way of the barber and does not inhibit his walking around the chair or does not prevent rotation of the chair. With the development of structures which permit bringing electrical power to the rotatable and elevatable chair top, it is possible to have electrically operating equipment such as clippers carried with the chair.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved tool support for a chair having a reclining back wherein the tools are in an optimum location for easy accessibility and yet are out of the way for movement of the chair so that they do not interfere with the operators normal movements nor with rotation or elevation of the chair, nor movement of the reclining chair back.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved tool holder for a reclining chair back capable of holding a liquid sterilizer wherein the sterilizer cannot spill or slosh during movement of the chair or during change in position of the chair back.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved tool holder for a chair back wherein tools are supported and may be held in a sterilizer wherein the chair back reclines and yet the tools maintain a substantially uniform position relative to the floor surface and wherein the sterilizer tray remains horizontal.

Other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent with the teaching of the principles of the present invention in connection with the disclosure of the preferred embodiments thereof in the specification, claims and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a barber chair embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary somewhat schematic view showing different positions of the reclinable chair back;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line IIIIII of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view with parts omitted showing a mechanism constructed and operating in accordance with the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a chair assembly having a base adapted for resting on a flat floor surface supporting a chair 11 thereon. The chair has a seat 12 with a foot rest 12a and a reclinable back 13. Beside the seat 12 are side arms 15. The back 13 is suitably mounted on the chair for tilting movement forwardly or backwardly by suitable pivotal support or hinging mechanism at the "ice base of the back, not shown. Since the form of the chair may be varied, and the back mounting mechanism may take various shapes these features need not be described in detail, and as shown the back support includes uprights 19a which are received by elongate recesses 19, FIGURE 4, for vertically adjustably mounting the chair back 13. The uprights 19a move to adjusted pivotal positions and are locked at these positions. For a barber chair, it is well known to recline the back 13 to different barbering positions and the back moves rearwardly a substantial distance to almost a horizontal position for shaving a customer. In these various positions a tool tray mounted on the back cannot normally hold the tools in an open support or they will fall to the floor as the position of the back is changed. Also the back is often moved back violently by releasing a back lock so that tools held thereon will be jarred and will tend to be thrown to the floor and it has heretofore been substantially impossible to provide for a liquid sterilizer mounted on the chair back. The back however provides a convenient accessible location for tools and the present invention provides as a feature a tool mounting structure which provides sterilizer facilities for the tools.

The chair of FIGURE 1 is shown as supporting a clipper 39 which is plugged into an electrical outlet 14 on the frame of the chair and the sterilizing tool support, as will be described, is capable of holding clippers, combs, vibrators, and other types of necessary tools.

A tool holder and sterilizer 24 includes a lower tray 25 for holding a sterilizing liquid, and the mechanism is positioned within a rectangular recess 16 in the back.

As illustrated in FIGURE 4, the back is made hollow with the recess opening from the back surface thereof which does not interfere with the usual padding over the front surface of the back 13. The back is made with side uprights 17 and 22 and lower and upper horizontal members 20 and 21, and these may be constructed of wood or metal rigidly secured at their ends to provide the rectangular frame. Finishing material is placed over the frame as shown, and a plastic covering or plate may be easily attached to the back surface with a molded plastic insert 18 within the rectangular opening 16.

The tray 25 may be formed of metal or plastic and has upturned sides so as to contain sterilizing liquid. In the base of the tray 25 is a porous resilient absorbent material such as a sheet of polyurethane foam.

The sheet of foam 26 provids a shock absorbing function in that it protects the tools as they are thrown or dropped into the tray 25, and prevents the edges of shears or clippers from being dulled or burred against the lower surface of the tray 25. The absorbent sheet also soaks up liquid sterilizing fluid. Thus, as the weight of a tool is placed on the sheet of material 26 which is preferably saturated, liquid will be squeezed out due to its weight onto the tool to sterilize its surfaces. While the tray 25 remains horizontal, it may have sudden movements and the absorbent layer 26 will prevent sloshing or splashing 0f the liquid sterilizer.

Extending upright at the ends of the trays are end plates 27 and 28. These may be formed of various materials such as wood covered with a decorative and protective plastic, or may be formed of other materials. For supporting the tray 25 on the end plates, lower connecting bridging plates 29 and 30 are shown provided and these may be attached to the end plates by screws and may be welded or otherwise attached to the tray 25.

The end plates are pivotally supported near their upper ends within the recess 19 within the back so that the tray 25 is suspended in substantially its horizontal position.

For providing a pivotal support, supporting holes 31 and 32 extend horizontally through the end plates and the location of these holes may be chosen to hold the tray 25 in substantially its horizontal position or so as to permit it to tilt to the proper position. If desired, the tray may swing against the inner back surface 16a within the recess 16 in the chair back when the back 13 is in its upright position as shown in FIGURE 1, and as shown in the solid line position of FIGURE 2. The dotted line position of FIGURE 2 shows the movement of the tool support and sterilizing assembly 24 as the chair back 13 is tilted back, and the support 24 remains upright relative to a floor surface while the chair back 13 tilts backwardly.

Suitable pivotal supports may be provided for hanging the plates 27 and 28 within the recess 16. As shown, sleeves 34 and 35 will be slid into the holes 31 and 32 and threaded bolts 36 and 37 inserted into the sleeves, and threaded into internally threaded inserts such as 33 located at the sides of the recess 16.

For aiding in supporting tools within the tray 25, and particularly a tool such as a clipper 39, a horizontal bar 40, FIGURE 3, is supported on the plates 27 and 28 on bosses 44 and 45. The bar 40 is positioned so that the clipper will be in its optimum position with its base 39a positioned fiat, or substantially flat against the sterilizing sheet 26.

For convenience, the bosses 44 and 45 are also used to support a towel bar 41 and towels hung thereon will extend down in front of the tray additionally functioning to prevent any splashing of the sterilizing fluid from the tray and hiding tools within the tray from the direct line of view.

At the top of the end plates 27 and 28 is a support tray or plates 38 which additionally rigidifies the position of the end plates, prevents cut hair from falling into the tray 25 and provides a dry support for tools. The plate 38 is mounted close to the pivotal supports so that objects placed thereon do not substantially change the pivotal suspension of the tray 25.

Mounted at the top of the back, as shown in FIGURE 4, is a chair headrest support.

If desired for stability and strength, a back plate 44 may be provided extending upwardly from the rear edge of the tray 25 and be attached at its edges to the plates 27 and 28. Horizontal pins 42 and 43 may extend from the top edge of this back plate to be secured to the bar 40. These pins or rods 42 and 43 provide lateral support for rods for preventing the clipper or other tools from tipping sideways in the tray.

In operation the barber will place his tools on the tray 25 and they will maintain contact with the liquid sterilizer in the sheet or pad 26 at the base of the tray. The center of gravity of the holder and sterilizer assembly 24 with or without tools is generally centered and well below the pivotal support locations 31 and 32 so that the tray will always remain substantially horizontal and the assembly will remain substantially upright. Since the weight is well below the pivotal points the mechanism 24 will quickly respond to even sudden movements of the back 13 and will remain upright and will not spill the tools or sterilizer liquid.

Thus, it Will be seen that we have provided an improved chair assembly mechanism which meets the objectives and advantages above set forth. The support makes use of space which has heretofore been lost, and provides a storage area for tools which does not interfere with normal operation of the chair or the activities of the operator.

The drawings and specification present a detailed disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed, but covers all modifications, changes and alternative constructions and methods falling within the scope of the principles taught by the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A barber chair comprising, in combination,

a base having a seat with a reclinable back mounted on the base,

a rectangular recess in the back surface of the back,

a horizontal sterilizing liquid containing tray positioned within the recess,

end plates extending upwardly from the tray,

pivotal mounts at the upper end of said plates securing the plates to the sides of the recess,

a support plate across the upper ends of said end plates,

a horizontal support bar above the tray secured to the back edges of said end plates and positioned for supporting a clipper with its lower surface substantially parallel to the tray so that the clipper end will be subjected to sterilizing fluid in the tray,

and a resilient absorbent layer of material in the base of said tray for absorbing liquid sterilizer preventing liquid splash with movement of the back,

said tray remaining horizontal and swinging pivotally with tilting movement of the back.

2. A chair comprising, in combination,

a base having a seat with a reclinable back mounted on the base,

means defining a recess in the back surface of the chair back,

a tool support tray positioned within the recess,

end plates extending upwardly from the tray,

pivotal mounts at the upper end of said plates securing the plates to the sides of the recess,

a horizontal support bar above the tray secured to the back edges of said end plates and positioned for supporting a tool in said tray,

said tray remaining horizontal and swinging pivotally with tilting movement of the back.

3. A chair comprising, in combination,

a base having a seat with a reclinable back mounted on the base,

means defining a recess in the back surface of the chair back,

a horizontal sterilizer tray positioned within said recess for containing a sterilizer fluid,

end plates extending upwardly from the tray,

pivotal mounts at the upper end of said plates securing the plates to the sides of the recess, and

a horizontal support bar above the tray secured to the back edges of said end plates and positioned for supporting tools in said tray subject to the sterilizer fluid,

said tray remaining horizontal and swinging pivotally with tilting movement of the back.

4. A chair comprising, in combination,

a base having a seat with a reclinable back mounted on the base,

means defining a recess in the back surface of the chair back,

a horizontal sterilizer tray positioned within said recess for containing a sterilizer fluid,

end plates extending upwardly from the tray,

pivotal mounts at the upper end of said plates securing the plates to the sides of the recess,

a layer of resilient absorbent material in said tray retaining said sterilizer fluid absorbed therein, and

a horizontal tool suport bar above the tray secured to the back edges of said end plates and positioned for supporting said tools in the tray subject to the absorbent material,

said tray remaining horizontal and swinging pivotally with tilting movement of the back.

5. A chair comprising, in combination,

a base having a seat with a reclinable back mounted on the base,

means defining a recess in the back surface of the chair back,

a horizontal sterilizer tray positioned within said recessv for containing a sterilizer fluid,

end plates extending upwardly from the tray,

pivotal mounts at the upper end of said plates securing the plates to the sides of the recess,

a support plate across the upper ends of said end plates,

and

a horizontal tool support bar above the tray secured to the back edges of said end plates and positioned for supporting said tools in the tray subject to the sterilizing fluid,

said tray remaining horizontal and swinging pivotally with tilting movement of the back.

6. A chair comprising, in combination,

a base having a seat with a tiltable back mounted on the base,

means defining a recess in the back surface of the chair back;.

a tool holder including a tool support tray for supporting tools thereon,

a pivotal mount connected to the tool holder and to the chair back above the center of gravity of the holder to pivotally mount the tool support tray on the chair back in an upright position and substantially within the recess when the chair back is in an upright position, and

a tool' support member mounted on said holder and positioned for retaining tools on the tray,

wherebysaid tray depends downwardly from said pivotal mount and in an upright position regardless of tilting movement of the chair back and tools supported on the tray remain thereon.

7. A chair comprising, in combination,

a base having a seat with a tiltable back mounted on the base,

means defining a recess in the back surface of the chair back,

a tool holder including a tool sterilizer tray for containing a sterilizer fluid therein,

a pivotal mount connected to the tool holder and to the chair back above the center of gravity of the holder to pivotally mount the tool sterilizer tray on the chair back in an upright position and substantially within the recess when the chair back is in an upright position; and

a tool support member mounted on said holder and positioned for retaining tools on said tray subject to the sterilizer fluid,

whereby said tray depends downwardly from said pivotal mount and in an upright position regardless of tilting movement of the chair back and tools supported on the tray remain thereon.

8. A chair comprising, in combination,

a base having a seat with a tiltable back mounted on the base,

means defining a recess in the back surface of the chair back,

a tool holder including a tool support tray for supporting tools,

a pivotal mount connected to the tool holder and to the chair back above the center of gravity of the holder to pivotally mount the tool support tray on the chair back in an upright position and substantially within the recess when the chair back is in an upright position,

a layer of resilient absorbent material in said tray retaining said sterilizer fluid absorbed therein, and

a tool support member mounted on said holder and positioned for retaining tools .in engagement with the absorbent material,

whereby said tray depends downwardly from said pivotal mount and in an upright position regardless of tilting movement of the chair back and tools supported on the tray remain thereon.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,243,958 10/1917 McFarland 297-191 X 1,490,043 4/ 1924 Thurman 297-188 X 1,868,904 7/1932 Johnston 2187 1,938,159 12/1933 Stewart 20616 2,857,230 10/1958 Soldat 312266 X 3,038,773 6/1962 Vasbinder 312-266 X 3,044,828 7/1962 Fowler 297-191 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BARBER CHAIR COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A BASE HAVING A SEAT WITH A RECLINABLE BACK MOUNTED ON THE BASE, A RECTANGULAR RECESS IN THE BACK SURFACE OF THE BACK, A HORIZONTAL STERILIZING LIQUID CONTAINING TRAY POSITIONED WITHIN THE RECESS, END PLATES EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE TRAY, PIVOTAL MOUNTS AT THE UPPER END OF SAID PLATES SECURING THE PLATES TO THE SIDES OF THE RECESS, A SUPPORT PLATE ACROSS THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID END PLATES, A HORIZONTAL SUPPORT BAR ABOVE THE TRAY SECURED TO THE BACK EDGES OF SAID END PLATES AND POSITIONED FOR SUPPORTING A CLIPPER WITH ITS LOWER SURFACE SUBSTANTIALLY 